U.S. patent application number 12/499100 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-25 for clamping apparatus with positioning function.
This patent application is currently assigned to FOXSEMICON INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY, INC.. Invention is credited to YI-CHUN CHIU, CHUN-KAI HUANG, MING-DE YAO.
Application Number | 20100071172 12/499100 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42029583 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100071172 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HUANG; CHUN-KAI ; et
al. |
March 25, 2010 |
CLAMPING APPARATUS WITH POSITIONING FUNCTION
Abstract
An exemplary clamping apparatus includes a first elongated guide
member, a first clamping member, a second clamping member, and a
first drive assembly. The first and the second clamping member each
moveably attached to the guide member. The first drive assembly
includes a motor, a first gear, a second gear meshed to the first
gear, a first drive member and a second drive member. The first
drive member transmits power from the motor to the first clamping
member. The second drive member transmits power from the motor to
the second clamping member through the first and second gears. The
first and the second drive members are configured for moving the
corresponding first clamping member and the corresponding second
clamping member towards or away from one another along the guide
member.
Inventors: |
HUANG; CHUN-KAI; (Chu-Nan,
TW) ; CHIU; YI-CHUN; (Chu-Nan, TW) ; YAO;
MING-DE; (Chu-Nan, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. Steven Reiss
288 SOUTH MAYO AVENUE
CITY OF INDUSTRY
CA
91789
US
|
Assignee: |
FOXSEMICON INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY,
INC.
Chu-Nan
TW
|
Family ID: |
42029583 |
Appl. No.: |
12/499100 |
Filed: |
July 8, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/463 ;
24/568 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 21/68721 20130101;
Y10T 24/44966 20150115; Y10T 24/44068 20150115; H01L 21/68728
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/463 ;
24/568 |
International
Class: |
A44B 21/00 20060101
A44B021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 19, 2008 |
CN |
200810304588.4 |
Claims
1. A clamping apparatus, comprising: a first elongated guide
member; a first clamping member moveably attached to the guide
member; a second clamping member moveably attached to the guide
member; and a first drive assembly comprising: a motor having a
first drive shaft attached to the first guide member, a first gear
coupled to the first drive shaft of the motor; a second gear meshed
with the first gear, the second gear having a second drive shaft
attached to the first guide member; a first drive member coupled to
the first drive shaft and the first clamping member to transmitting
power from the motor to the first clamping member, and a second
drive member coupled to the second drive shaft and the second
clamping member to transmitting power from the motor to the second
clamping member through the first and second gears, and the first
and the second drive member configured for moving the corresponding
first clamping member and the corresponding second clamping member
towards or away from one another along the guide member.
2. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first
passive shaft attached to a first end of the first guide member
distal from the second drive shaft; a second passive shaft attached
to an opposite second end of the first guide member distal from the
first drive shaft; wherein the first drive member comprises a first
belt extending around the first drive shaft and the first passive
shaft along the first guide member, with the first clamping member
being fixedly attached to the first belt, and the second drive
member comprises a second belt extending around the second drive
shaft and the second passive shaft along the first guide member,
with the second clamping member being fixedly attached to the
second belt.
3. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and the
second drive members each comprises a belt.
4. The clamping apparatus of claim 3, wherein each belt comprises a
timing belt.
5. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor comprises a
servo motor.
6. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first
locking screw coupled to the first passive shaft for adjusting a
tension of the first belt. a second locking screw coupled to the
second passive shaft for adjusting a tension of the second
belt.
7. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first elongated
guide member comprises an elongated rail, the first and the second
clamping members each comprises: a bracket with a groove receiving
the rail, the bracket being slidably attached to the guide member;
and at least one clamping pin attached to the bracket.
8. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first
block attached to a first end of the guide member adjacent to the
first drive member for preventing the first clamping member from
moving out of the first guide member; and a second block attached
to an opposite second end of the guide member adjacent to the
second drive member for preventing the second clamping member from
moving out of the first guide member.
9. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second
elongated guide member arranged above and perpendicular to the
first elongated guide member; a third clamping member moveably
attached to the second guide member; a fourth clamping member
moveably attached to the second guide member; and a second drive
assembly comprising: a motor having a first drive shaft attached to
the second guide member, a third gear coupled to the first drive
shaft of the motor; a fourth gear meshed with the third gear, the
fourth gear having a second drive shaft attached to the second
guide member; a first drive member coupled to the first drive shaft
of the second drive assembly and the third clamping member to
transmitting power from the motor of the second drive assembly to
the third clamping member, and a second drive member coupled to the
second drive shaft of the second drive assembly; a third drive
member coupled to the second drive member and the fourth clamping
member to transmitting power from the motor and the third and
fourth the gears of the second drive assembly through the second
drive member of the second drive assembly to the fourth clamping
member, the first and the third drive member configured for moving
the corresponding third clamping member and the corresponding
fourth clamping member towards or away from one another along the
second guide member.
10. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a passive
shaft attached to the second guide member, and the third drive
member being coupled to the second drive member through the passive
shaft.
11. The clamping apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a first
passive shaft attached to a first end of the second guide member
distal from the second drive shaft of the second drive assembly; a
second passive shaft attached to an opposite second end of the
second guide member distal from the first drive shaft of the second
drive assembly; wherein the first drive member of the second drive
assembly comprises a first belt extending around the first drive
shaft of the second drive assembly and the first passive shaft
along the second guide member, with the third clamping member being
fixedly attached to the first belt, and the second drive member of
the second drive assembly comprises a second belt extending around
the second drive shaft and the passive shaft along the second guide
member, and the third drive member comprises a third belt extending
around the passive shaft and the second passive shaft along the
second guide member, with the fourth clamping member being fixedly
attached to the third belt.
12. The clamping apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first, the
second and the second drive members each comprises a belt.
13. The clamping apparatus of claim 12, wherein each belt comprises
a timing belt.
14. The clamping apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second elongated
guide member comprises an elongated rail, the third and the fourth
clamping members each comprises: a bracket with a groove receiving
the rail, the bracket being slidably attached to the second guide
member; and at least one clamping pin attached to the bracket.
15. The clamping apparatus of claim 14, wherein the third and the
fourth clamping members each comprises an actuator arranged on the
bracket for raising or lowering at least one clamping pin.
16. The clamping apparatus of claim 15, wherein the actuator
comprises a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder.
17. A clamping apparatus, comprising: a first elongated guide
member; a first clamping member moveably attached to the guide
member; a second clamping member moveably attached to the guide
member; and a first drive assembly comprising: a motor having a
first drive shaft attached to the first guide member, a pair of
gears engaged with one another with one of the gears coupled to the
first drive shaft of the motor and the other of the gears having a
second drive shaft attached to the guide member adjacent to the
first drive shaft; a first drive member coupled to the first drive
shaft and the first clamping member to transmitting power from the
motor to the first clamping member, and a second drive member
coupled to the second drive shaft and the second clamping member to
transmitting power from the motor to the second clamping member
through the pair of the gears, and the first and the second drive
member configured for moving the corresponding first clamping
member and the corresponding second clamping member towards or away
from one another along the guide member; and a second elongated
guide member arranged above and perpendicular to the first
elongated guide member; a third clamping member moveably attached
to the second guide member; a fourth clamping member moveably
attached to the second guide member; and a second drive assembly
comprising: a motor having a first drive shaft attached to the
second guide member, a pair of gears engaged with one another with
one of the gears coupled to the first drive shaft of the motor and
the other of the gears having a second drive shaft attached to the
second guide member; a first drive member coupled to the first
drive shaft of the second drive assembly and the third clamping
member to transmitting power from the motor of the second drive
assembly to the third clamping member, and a second drive member
coupled to the second drive shaft of the second drive assembly; a
third drive member coupled to the second drive member and the
fourth clamping member to transmitting power from the motor and the
pair of the gears of the second drive assembly through the second
drive member of the second drive assembly to the fourth clamping
member, and the first and the third drive member configured for
moving the corresponding third clamping member and the
corresponding fourth clamping member towards or away from one
another along the second guide member.
18. The clamping apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first, the
second and the second drive members each comprises a belt.
19. The clamping apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second
elongated guide member comprises an elongated rail, the third and
the fourth clamping members each comprises: a bracket with a groove
receiving the rail, the bracket being slidably attached to the
second guide member; and at least one clamping pin attached to the
bracket.
20. The clamping apparatus of claim 19, wherein the third and the
fourth clamping members each comprises an actuator arranged on the
bracket for raising or lowering at least one clamping pin.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The disclosure generally relates to clamping apparatuses
and, particularly, to a clamping apparatus with positioning
function useable for clamping flat panel display substrates.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Flat panel displays (FPD) including liquid crystal displays
(LCD), plasma display panels (PDP), and organic electroluminescent
(OEL) displays are widely used because of being lighter and much
thinner than traditional television and video displays that use
cathode ray tubes (CRT). A flat panel display substrate is a
fundamental element of a flat panel display.
[0005] One aspect of manufacturing the flat panel display substrate
is clamping and positioning the substrate. FIG. 7 illustrates
clamping pins of a typical clamping apparatus. The clamping
apparatus uses two first clamping pins 3 and two second clamping
pins 5 to clamp a substrate 7 at two sides thereof. The first and
the second clamping pins 3, 5 generally are driven by two
individual mechanisms (not shown) coupled to actuators. However,
the clamping apparatus including the two individual mechanisms
generally has a very complicated structure. In addition, there
exist difficulties for driving the first and the second clamping
pins 3, 5 synchronously by the two individual mechanisms. Thus the
substrate 7 may not be properly clamped at each predetermined
position.
[0006] What is needed, therefore, is a clamping apparatus with
positioning function which can overcome the limitations
described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with
reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings
are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being
placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary
clamping apparatus. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference
numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
[0008] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a clamping apparatus, in
accordance with a first embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a partial and amplified view illustrating a first
clamping member of the clamping apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a clamping apparatus, in
accordance with a second embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an isometric view illustrating a second guide
member associated with a third clamping member and a fourth
clamping member, as well as a second drive assembly of the clamping
apparatus of FIG. 3.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a partial and amplified view illustrating a fourth
clamping member of the clamping apparatus of FIG. 3.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an assembly line conveyor
with the clamping apparatus of FIG. 3 in clamping and positioning a
substrate.
[0014] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of clamping pins of a typical
clamping apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a clamping apparatus 100, in accordance
with a first embodiment is shown. The clamping apparatus 100
includes a first elongated guide member 11, a first clamping member
12 and a second clamping member 13 each moveably attached to the
guide member 11, and a first drive assembly 16 for driving the
first and the second clamping members 12, 13 to move towards or
away from one another.
[0016] The first elongated guide member 11 includes a first end
portion 110 and a second end portion 112 at opposite sides thereof.
In the first embodiment, the guide member 11 includes an elongated
rail 113.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and the second
clamping members 12, 13 are generally similar to one another. Thus,
for the purpose of brevity, only the first clamping member 12 is
described herein with the understanding that like reference numbers
refer to like parts in the second clamping member 13. The first
clamping member 12 includes a bracket 120 and at least one clamping
pin 122 arranged on the bracket 120. The bracket 120 includes a
sliding portion 120a engaged with the guide member 11, a stage
120b, and a fixing portion 120c. The stage 120b and a fixing
portion 120c are both attached to the sliding portion 120a. The
sliding portion 120a has a groove 1200 receiving the rail 113.
Thereby the first clamping member 12 is slidably attached to the
guide member 11. As illustrated in FIG. 2, two parallel clamping
pins 122 are provided as part of the first clamping member 12. The
clamping pins 122 are arranged on a supporting plate 126, and
attached to the stage 120b through the supporting plate 126. The
supporting plate 126 may extend in a direction perpendicular to the
guide member 11, thus allowing more than two clamping pins 122 to
be arranged thereon.
[0018] The first drive assembly 16 includes a motor 161, a first
drive member 162a, a second drive member 162b, and a pair of gears
163 in engagement with one another. The motor 161 is attached to
the guide member 11 through a frame 114 fixed to the guide member
11. The first drive member 162a is coupled to the motor 161 and the
first clamping member 12. The second drive member 162b is coupled
to the motor 161 and the second clamping member 13. The first drive
member 162a moves the first clamping member 12 along the guide
member 11 to position the clamping pins 122 thereof at desired
locations along the guide member 11. Similarly, the second drive
member 162b moves the second clamping member 13 along the guide
member 11 to position the clamping pins 122 thereof at desired
locations along the guide member 11.
[0019] The motor 161 can be a servo motor having a first drive
shaft 161a attached to a middle portion of the guide member 11. The
first drive shaft 161a is coupled to one gear 163 and a drive
sprocket 161b arranged at two opposite sides of the guide member
11. The other gear 163 is coupled to a second drive shaft 164a
attached to the guide member 11 adjacent to the first drive shaft
161a. The second drive shaft 164a has a second drive sprocket 164b
attached to a opposite side thereof to the gears 163.
[0020] The first drive assembly 16 further includes a first passive
shaft 165a attached to the first end portion 110, and a second
passive shaft 166a attached to the second end portion 120. The
first passive shaft 165a has a first passive sprocket (not shown)
coupled thereto. The second passive shaft 166a has a second passive
sprocket 166b coupled thereto. The first drive member 162a is
coupled to the first drive sprocket 161b and the first passive
sprocket and extends along the guide member 11. The second drive
member 162b is coupled to the second passive shaft 164b and the
second passive sprocket 166b and extends along the guide member
11.
[0021] Each of the first drive sprocket 161b, the first passive
sprocket 165b, the second drive sprocket 164b, and the second
passive sprocket 166b can selectively be a gear, a pulley, or other
similar mechanisms. The first drive member 162a may be a belt, such
as a timing belt with transverse grooves (not shown) arranged along
the back side thereof to engage with the first drive sprocket 161b
and the first passive sprocket. Similarly, the second drive member
162b may also be a timing belt with transverse grooves (not shown)
arranged along the back side thereof to engage with the second
drive sprocket 164b and the second passive sprocket 166b. In
alternative embodiments, the first and second drive members 162a,
162b can also be regular drive members without the transverse
grooves, or they can be chains. To couple the first clamping member
12 to the first drive member 162a, an upper portion of the first
drive member 162a is fixedly attached to the fixing portion 120c of
the first clamping member 12. Similarly, an upper portion of the
second drive member 162b is fixedly attached to the fixing portion
120c of the second clamping member 13 to couple the second clamping
member 13 to the second drive member 162b.
[0022] In operation, the first and the second drive members 162a,
162b move the first and the second clamping members 12, 13 towards
or away from one another along the guide member 11. To move the
first and the second clamping members 12, 13 toward one another,
the motor 161 rotates the gear 163 attached to the first drive
shaft 161a and the first drive sprocket 161b clockwise (from the
perspective of FIG. 2). The clockwise rotation of the first drive
sprocket 161b moves the upper portion of the first drive member
162a towards the middle portion of the guide member 11. The first
drive member 162a accordingly moves the first clamping member 12
along the guide member 11 toward the middle portion of the guide
member 11. Because the gears 163 are in engagement with one
another, a clockwise rotation of the gear 163 coupled to the first
drive shaft 161a rotates the other gear 163 coupled to the second
drive shaft 164a, as well as the second drive sprocket 164b,
counter-clockwise. The second drive sprocket 164b then moves the
upper portion of the second drive member 162b towards the middle
portion of the guide member 11. The second drive member 162b
accordingly moves the second clamping member 13 along the guide
member 11 toward the middle portion of the guide member 11.
Conversely, to move the first and the second clamping members 12,
13 away from one another, the motor 161 rotates the first drive
sprocket 161b in the counter-clockwise direction. The
counter-clockwise movement of the first drive sprocket 161b moves
the first drive member 162a and the first clamping member 12
coupled thereto away from the middle portion of the guide member
11. The second drive sprocket 164b rotates clockwise to move the
second drive member 162b and the second clamping member 13 coupled
thereto away from the middle portion of the guide member 11.
[0023] In clamping a substrate (not shown), such as a flat panel
display substrate, the first and the second clamping members 12, 13
are moved toward one another, with the substrate arranged
therebetween. The first and the second clamping members 12, 13
clamp the substrate at two peripheral sides thereof using the
clamping pins 122. Once the substrate is clamped, the first and the
second clamping members 12, 13 each move to a predetermined
location along the guide member 11. A gap between the two
predetermined locations has a same width as a distance between the
two opposite peripheral sides of the substrate. Thus, the first and
the second clamping members 12, 13 clamp the substrate, as well as
position the substrate. It is understood, when the first and the
second clamping members 12, 13 move away from one another, the
clamping pins 122 disengage from the substrate.
[0024] The clamping apparatus 100 can further include a first block
171 and a second block 172 for preventing the first and the second
clamping members 12, 13 from sliding out of the guide member 11,
and a first locking screw (not shown) and a second locking screw 18
for adjusting tensions of the first and the second drive members
162a, 162b. The first block 171 is attached to the first end
portion 110 at an edge thereof, and the second block 172 is
attached to the second end portion 112 at an edge thereof. The
first locking screw is coupled to the first passive shaft 165a, and
the second locking screw 18 is coupled to the second passive shaft
166a. In a typical application, by turning the second locking screw
18 clockwise or counter-clockwise to move the second passive shaft
166a back and forth along the guide member 11, a tension of the
second drive member 162b is adjusted as desired. It is noted, that
the first locking screw operates in a manner similar to that the
second locking screw 18.
[0025] One advantage of the clamping apparatus 100 is that the
clamping apparatus 100 has a compact structure because of using
only one motor 161 to serve as an actuator. This advantage is
achieved by transmitting power from the motor 161 to the first
clamping member 12, and by using the pair of gears 163 to transmit
power from the motor 161 to the second clamping member 13.
[0026] It should be noted that the clamping apparatus 100 is not
limited to have the above-mentioned first embodiment, the clamping
apparatus described in below embodiments, are acceptable as
well.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a clamping apparatus 200, in
accordance with a second embodiment is shown. The clamping
apparatus 200 includes a guide member 11 extending in a direction
Y, a first clamping member 12 and a second clamping member 13 each
slidably attached to the guide member 11, and a first drive
assembly 16 as well as a second elongated guide member 21 extending
in a direction X associated with a third clamping member 22, a
fourth clamping member 23, and a second drive assembly 26. It is
noted, that the guide member 11, the first and the second clamping
members 12, 13, and the first drive assembly 16 of the clamping
apparatus 200 is the same as that of the clamping apparatus 100.
Thus no details are provided to illustrate the guide member 11, the
first and the second clamping members 12, 13, and the first drive
assembly 16 in the second embodiment.
[0028] In this embodiment, the second guide member 21 is similar to
the guide member 11, and is arranged above and perpendicular to the
guide member 11. The second drive assembly 26 is similar to the
first drive assembly 16, except that a third drive member 262c is
further provided. Accordingly, the third clamping member 22 is
coupled to the first drive member 262a, and the fourth clamping
member 23 is coupled to the third drive member 262c. In particular,
another passive shaft 267a is provided around a second drive shaft
264a and a second passive shaft 266a, and two opposite ends of the
another passive shaft 267a are coupled to two third passive
sprockets 267b. A second drive member 262b is coupled to a second
drive sprocket 264b and one of the third passive sprockets 267b,
and is configured for translating rotation of the second drive
sprocket 264b to the two third passive sprockets 267b. The third
drive member 262c extends along the second guide member 21 at an
opposite side of the second drive member 262b to the first drive
member 262a, and is coupled to the other of the third passive
sprockets 267b and the second sprocket shaft 266b. In a typical
application of the third drive member 262c, the third passive
sprocket 267b moves the upper portion of the third drive member
262c along the second guide member 21. Thus the third drive member
262c accordingly moves the corresponding fourth clamping member 22
along the second guide member 21.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, the third clamping member 22 has the
same structure as the fourth clamping member 23. Thus, only the
fourth clamping members 23 is described herein with the
understanding that like reference numbers refer to like parts in
the third clamping member 22. The fourth clamping members 23 of
FIG. 5 is similar to the first clamping member 12 of FIG. 2, except
that the fourth clamping member 23 further includes an actuator 228
arranged between a supporting plate 226 and a stage 220b of a
bracket 220 for raising or lowering at least one clamping pin 222
on the supporting plate 226. The actuator 228 is generally a
pneumatic cylinder, or the actuator 228 can be a hydraulic
cylinder, an electric actuator or another type of actuator.
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary application of the clamping
apparatus 200. The clamping apparatus 200 is disposed at a station
30 on a conveyor 300. A substrate 40 having two opposite first
peripheral sides 402 and two opposite second peripheral sides 404
is transported by a plurality of rollers 50 in a direction parallel
with the second guide member 21 and at an elevation higher with
respect to the clamping pins 122. Before the substrate 40 is
transported above the guide member 11 and the second guide member
21, the actuator 228 lowers the clamping pins 222 downwards until
the clamping pins 222 are below the height of the clamping pins
122. Thus the substrate 40 arrives on the guide member 11 and the
second guide member 21 without the blocking effect of the clamping
pins 222. Once the substrate 40 arrives on the guide member 11 and
the second guide member 21, the actuator 228 raises the clamping
pins 222 upwards until the clamping pins 222 are at the same
elevation as the clamping pins 122. Then the first and the second
clamping members 12, 13 move the clamping pins 122 towards one
another to clamp the two first peripheral sides 402 of the
substrate 40, and the third and fourth clamping members 22, 23 move
the clamping pins 222 towards one another to clamp the two second
peripheral sides 404 of the substrate 40.
[0031] One aspect of the clamping apparatus 200 that makes it
operate in an effective way is that the clamping apparatus 200
clamps the substrate 40 at four sides thereof. Thus the clamping
apparatus 200 clamps the substrate 40 firmly.
[0032] In the second embodiment, the first peripheral side 402 of
the substrate 40 is longer than the second peripheral side 404
thereof. Thus a length of the second guide member 22 is desired to
be longer than that of the guide member 11. The longer guide member
21 allows the third and the fourth clamping members 22, 23 moving
thereon to be spaced from each other with a gap therebetween as
wide as the distance between the first peripheral sides 402. One
purpose of the third drive member 262c in the second embodiment is
to move the fourth clamping member 23 to a position at an extension
direction of the second drive member 262b according to the length
of the guide member 21. It is understood, there may be additional
drive members provided to further couple to the third drive member
262c and move the fourth clamping member 23, to accommodate longer
first peripheral sides 402 and guide members 21 in alternative
embodiments.
[0033] It is believed that the exemplary embodiments and their
advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and
it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or
sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples
hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary
embodiments of the disclosure.
* * * * *